Institutional Games and Strategies as a Response to Complexity

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Institutional Games and Strategies as a Response to Complexity

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Part E of Complexity: its constraints on social innovation. Preliminary report for Group 2 on behalf of Mankind 2000
for the Journées d'Etudes (Paris, 28-30 mars 1977) of the International Foundation for Social Innovation.
Published in Transnational Associations 29, 5, 1977, pp. 187-189. [PDF version][French version]

This paper introduces one aspect of the complexity-theme which has been explored from other points of view in earlier papers m this periodical: Les Katas institutionnels, by Thierry Gaudin (1977, 3, pp. 77-79): Wrecking an international Project: 114 notes from a saboteur's vade mecum (1972, 10, pp. 487-490): and Limits to Human Potential (1976, 10, pp. 444-446: 1977, 4. pp. 147-151).

The complex intra- and inter-organizational environment constitutes, for many people in industralized societies, a reality which is as substantial as that of the natural environment with which previous generations felt themselves to be in closer contact. Within such a context in which those involved must simplify their perception of their surroundings in order to be able to act and survive, additional dynamics occur. Individuals, groups and institutions use that part of the environment upon which they have some conceptual or operational hold as a "territorial" base from which to interact with others. There therefore emerges a form of territorial behaviour in which each attempts to build up the significance and of others

This occurs between organizations, between disciplines or schools of thought, between languages, between cultures, between ideologies, between religions, between values, etc.

Having acquired a hold on a part of any domain, the individual or group in effect transforms it into a fortress which has to be defended against enemies from without and against rivals from within. Survival demands an expertise in strategy and tactics which may well involve obstructing the development of control has been achieved.

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